Research Symposium

BIO

I am majoring in psychology with a minor in criminology. I am currently a research assistant in a psychology lab here at FSU. I plan to eventually earn either a PhD in Clinical or Forensic Psychology. My ultimate goal however is to pursue a career in forensic psychology.

I was born and grew up in Kissimmee, Florida. I enjoy listening to music, painting, drawing, photography, going to the beach, walking on nature trails, going to amusement parks, and hanging out with friends and family. I went to a performing arts middle/high school where I majored as a creative writer in middle school and then switched to visual arts in high school. Through my art and experiences, I have become a detail-oriented, patient, problem-solving, and creative individual who strives to help those around me by listening and connecting to others. Thus, I wish to apply these skills to my future career in psychology.

Understanding Assaults on the Police: A Systematic Review on the Strength, Limitations, and Future of National Data Sources for Empirical Research

Abstract

Assaults on the police represent a pressing public policy issue, especially as law enforcement faces challenges in recruitment and retention due to the unique occupational dangers associated with policing. A growing body of empirical research has sought to understand the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of these incidents; however, its development is complicated by the limitations of national data sources on police assaults. The aim of this systematic literature review is threefold: (1) assess the prevalence of each national data source on police assaults, (2) synthesize the limitations of these data sources as detailed in prior research, and (3) describe the unique feature of each data source that can facilitate future research. To this end, searches of literature published from January 1960 to September 2024 were performed using a combination of search strategies, such as electronic database searches, reference searches, and forward citation searches. Studies will be screened against a set of inclusion criteria and coded to address the study’s three key research questions. It is anticipated that the results of this study will highlight the key strengths and limitations of current national data on this crucial public policy issue. Further, it will illuminate opportunities to improve the state of police assault data and facilitate translational policing research.

Keywords: assaults, police, systematic review